Secrets of Software Success: Management Insights from 100 Software Firms Around the World

By Gert Purkert, Sandro K. Kindner, Ralph Muller, et al.

Book Overview

Drawing on an exclusive worldwide survey of more than 100 global software companies and 450 top executives, this book offers a panoramic view of the conditions that influence results for both the product and the service sides of the software industry.'

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1578511054
• ISBN13: 9781578511051
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.5" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

How to Survive as a Snowball in Hell

What does it take to thrive in an industry where "more than 60% of companies that make it to IPO eventually go bankrupt or create very little value"? Five young German business consultants decided they needed to know urgently, and have come up with some original conclusions. Not only are the winners significantly different from the also-rans, they are significantly different from successful companies in other industries. The book reads as though the the five authors split up the task of the book between them, and some sections are stronger than others. Whoever did the hard research and formed the major conclusions did a thorough and superb job - the reason for the five stars. The chapter on the technical aspects of producing good products were mostly derivative of Steve McConnell (" Software Project Survival Guide") and Fred Brooks ("Mythical Man Month"). The section on what it takes to attract good employees bordered on the silly, and the thumbnail sketches of such corporations as SAP, Baan and Platinum were uncritical to the point of reading like recruiting brochures. Who would I recommend the book to? Certainly, anybody who's thinking of starting a software company. I'd also recommend it to anyone wanting to invest in hi-tech, and any software professional who's job-hunting. Personally, I'm going to mail my copy to Judge Penfield Jackson.

Fascinating

This is a fascinating book. Never before have I seen such a comprehensive look at what goes on behind-the-scenes in the software industry. The insights into what management practices lead to success in this field are invaluable, and many could easily be translated into other industries. I plan to apply many in my own business.

Great Book

Read It and Apply it and you have a great new compan

Excellent book for software industry

This book was exactly what I was waiting for. I good addition to my software industry book collection. I read the whole book in one go, easy to read and good examples

Amazing collection of insights and really great reading

I was really impressed by this book. An amazingly global collection, real insights, well summed up. Must read, also highly relevant for internet entrepreneurs.